My garden is tiny, so last year I gave up flowers for veggies and this fall & spring plan to plant even more veggies. Amending the soil is a top priority and I've been collecting yard waste from neighbors whom I know shy away from chemicals. I've been layering paper and cardboard for two years now and have noticed a big increase in earthworms.
I've tried starting plants from seed but have had minimal success. I've found the Ferry-Morse Organic to be the most consistent with at least 99% germination. I'm also discovering that some things just don't do well in containers.
I do some selective "curb shopping" for containers, bags of leaves, plants that have been thrown away and desireable plants that have been trimmed - allowing me to take cuttings home to root. Free is good. Damaged bags of mulch, etc for 50% off at Lowes's is also good. Neighbors who know you garden is good because they bring you cuttings and other goodies. But I'm glad I don't have to feed a large family from this tiny garden!
cora

I tried getting free mulch from a tree co. but they don't have the business. I've been on the waiting list since May. I may have to break down and buy mulch.
I know I have too many plants so I try not to hang out in the box store outdoor section.
I may try to propagate some plants for our neighborhood yard sale in Nov.
Oh and I try to relax znd enjoy the garden as therapy.

I have never found growing vegetables to be very cost effective, at least not for us. By the time I've put so much money and labor into into it, it's way more costly than buying veggies at the store. We don't eat huge quantities of them, of course, being just Mark and I. And one veggie or a salad with our main dish is all we eat at night. So that's a false economy for us.

The only veggies I grow are the ones I want to just for taste, like one or two tomato plants and some herbs. I grow the herbs primarily for ornamental value and for the bees, but I do use them. So none of that is affected at all by the economy for me, except that I buy fewer of them.

My biggest problem is trying not to water too much, because it runs our power bill up a lot. (Our irrigation system and all our hose bibs are on a well with an electric pump.) So I guess you could say that's an economic consideration. Plus a conservation one, in not wanting to use too much water.

I still buy mulch where I need it to look pretty, and use my free oak leaves in other places, but I would do that, regardless.

The main reason I've cut back on buying plants right now (and on accepting cuttings and shared plants) is because I simply can't work outside until this weather cools down. It was 98 here yesterday!!!! I'm not going outside at ALL in near-100 degree weather. I don't care if everything out there croaks. If I WENT out, it would be ME croaking!!

Evelyn, I still need some of your rain. I could see through my windows that my coleus and other plants are lying about on the ground, limp and pitiful. Even my huge lemon grass is wilted and shrivled. I guess at my house, my garden concerns are currently more nature-related than economy-related. I might feel differently when I'm ready to get back out there again in the fall, and discover I can't afford to buy plants any more.

Marcia

I haven't cut back purchasing plants for economic reasons but I have done so for HEAT reasons, lol. Too hot to dig holes and then water them in so they live.

I also give away extra seedlings, mostly tomatoes, to other people.

I agree with Marcia that growing our own veggies isn't cost sensible but it is a hobby that is good for me, mentally (like coffeemom), physically and keeps me out of the expensive dress shops (who needs them for gardening).
And I love eating stuff I know the history of (no chemicals, pesticides, etc).

Denise

Denise, that's exactly what I mean. For us, the only reason to grow veggies would be for the taste of homegrown produce, which is delicious, of course. Or for the fun of growing them. But it would cost me way more money than I typically spend on vegetables for the two of us, so I wouldn't do it for economical reasons, for sure.

Even my one tomato plant that I grow every year ends up with tomatoes rotting on it or getting eaten by squirrels & birds, etc. Because Mark and I don't eat a whole tomato plant's worth of 'maters in a summer. Now herbs I can keep looking pretty good for quite awhile, and I do enjoy snipping fresh ones for omelets, salads, and other culinary uses. But I don't grow THEM for cost effectiveness, either. I grow them for beauty, aroma, bees, and fun.

Boy, I'm with you on the weather. I'd rather be drawn and quartered than to go outside and dig a hole right now. I've even given up my hand watering, which is my most favorite job of all in the garden.

When, oh when, will FALL arrive?

Marcia

I agree...it is hotter than hot right now!

I may be the exception then, but, I ate almost every single tomoato from my four tomato plants this past year. I gave a few away, but had tomato salad almost every day.

I reuse the soil in the pots and may top it off with a bag of manure (1 bag per two large pots = $1.79). Occassionally, I'll toss in some MG...most of the time, I forget. The watering cost isn't really that bad. So, I guess it really doesn't cost me much...definitely worth the results too. :)

It was quite dee-lish!

" I was wondering if any one else is making any concessions or even adding more space to their garden due to the current economic climate. "

Had a meeting last night with my cattle partners and we all agree that our main concerns due to the economic climate are cattle rustling , vandalism and invading wildlife . A black bear was sighted running across my back pasture last week . I live less than two miles from gardencpa and this is not considered " the country ". A black bear has never been sighted here before .

Who ever dreamed I would have to worry about people stealing my cows ? Thieves are taking them to market where they can get as much as $1000 dollars - no questions asked . Had someone mow down several hundred dollars worth of fencing and posts with their car and flee - twice this year .
Raising hay and pastures is viewed as nuturing one big garden . We have not cut back on expenses there but instead have concentrated on doing things correctly ( soil testing , reading the latest info , etc .) and using local sources as often as possible to keep our money working at home .

Same with my vegetable garden . I try to garden smart , efficiently and with a little help from my friends . gardengrl has inspired me to preserve so now I make my own jams , preserves and pickles . I dry herbs to use this winter . And best of all ... I share with as many non-gardeners as I can and have converted a few . Lots of first time growers using my cuttings and seeds instead of buying everything at the big box stores .

The changes we have made are not due to unemployment or even uncertain times . Farming and ranching has always been uncertain . Education and improvements play a key factor in why we chose to try different approaches .
Good luck saintpfla . Hope life improves for you soon .

saintp
I forgot to say: do you want any lettuce/mesclun mix seeds? They just finished drying out and there is lots of it.

I also have many many heirloom tomato seeds, every color, size, etc. You don't have an email address in your GW page so email your snailmail address to "imagardener2@comcast.net". September and cooler weather are coming....I hope soon.

Denise